U.S. patent application number 12/339104 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-25 for direct backlight module supporting apparatus and direct backlight module.
This patent application is currently assigned to AU OPTRONICS (SUZHOU) CORP., LTD.. Invention is credited to Dong-Ming SHEN.
Application Number | 20100073906 12/339104 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40412643 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100073906 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SHEN; Dong-Ming |
March 25, 2010 |
Direct backlight module supporting apparatus and direct backlight
module
Abstract
A direct backlight module supporting apparatus and a direct
backlight module are provided. The direct backlight module
comprises a backboard, an optical film, at least one light source
and at least one direct backlight module supporting apparatus. At
least one light source is fixed on the backboard; and at least one
direct backlight module supporting apparatus is placed between the
backboard and the optical film, wherein the direct backlight module
comprises a base and a main body. The base is fixed on the
backboard. The main body is a pillar formed on the base. The main
body has an opening stretching down from the top of the main body
to make a backlight projected to the top of the direct backlight
module supporting apparatus. The top of the direct backlight module
supporting apparatus supports the optical film.
Inventors: |
SHEN; Dong-Ming; (SUZHOU,
CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRIAN M. MCINNIS
12th Floor, Ruttonjee House, 11 Duddell Street
Hong Kong
HK
|
Assignee: |
AU OPTRONICS (SUZHOU) CORP.,
LTD.
SUZHOU
CN
AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
HSIN-CHU
TW
|
Family ID: |
40412643 |
Appl. No.: |
12/339104 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/97.1 ;
362/317; 362/341; 362/382 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F 1/133608
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/97.1 ;
362/382; 362/317; 362/341 |
International
Class: |
G09F 13/08 20060101
G09F013/08; F21V 21/00 20060101 F21V021/00; F21V 8/00 20060101
F21V008/00; F21V 7/00 20060101 F21V007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 24, 2008 |
CN |
200810165699.1 |
Claims
1. A direct backlight module supporting apparatus comprising: a
base; and a main body which is a pillar formed on the base; wherein
the main body has a top opening stretching down from the top of the
main body to make a backlight projected to the top of the direct
backlight module supporting apparatus through the top opening.
2. The direct backlight module supporting apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the main body further comprises a light guiding tunnel
having a first opening connected to the top opening of the main
body and a second opening on a sidewall of the main body, the
backlight from the second opening passes through the light guiding
tunnel and is projected to the top of the direct backlight module
supporting apparatus through the first and the top openings.
3. The direct backlight module supporting apparatus of claim 2,
wherein a reflecting means is formed in the light guiding tunnel to
reflect the backlight and concentrate the projection of the
backlight to the top of the direct backlight module supporting
apparatus through the first and the top openings.
4. The direct backlight module supporting apparatus of claim 2, the
main body further comprises a chamfer on the sidewall of the main
body to reflect the backlight into the light guiding tunnel,
wherein the second opening substantially connects to the
chamfer.
5. The direct backlight module supporting apparatus of claim 4,
wherein the chamfer further comprises an inclined surface to
concentrate the projection of the backlight into the light guiding
tunnel.
6. The direct backlight module supporting apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the main body is a cylinder, a cubic pillar, a pyramid, an
inverted pyramid or a pillar with the combination of different
shapes.
7. A direct backlight module supporting apparatus comprising: a
base; and a main body which is a pillar formed on the base; wherein
the main body comprises a light guiding tunnel having a first
opening on the top of the main body and a second opening on a
sidewall of the main body to make a backlight from the second
opening pass through the light guiding tunnel and make the
backlight project to the top of the direct backlight module
supporting apparatus through the first opening.
8. The direct backlight module supporting apparatus of claim 7,
wherein a reflecting means is formed in the light guiding tunnel to
reflect the backlight and concentrate the projection of the
backlight to the top of the direct backlight module supporting
apparatus through the first openings.
9. The direct backlight module supporting apparatus of claim 7, the
main body further comprises a chamfer on the sidewall of the main
body to reflect the backlight into the light guiding tunnel,
wherein the second opening substantially connects to the
chamfer.
10. The direct backlight module supporting apparatus of claim 9,
wherein the chamfer further comprises an inclined surface to
concentrate the projection of the backlight into the light guiding
tunnel.
11. The direct backlight module supporting apparatus of claim 7,
wherein the main body is a cylinder, a cubic pillar, a pyramid, an
inverted pyramid or a pillar with the combination of different
shapes.
12. A direct backlight module comprising: a backboard; an optical
film; at least one light source fixed on the backboard; and at
least one direct backlight module supporting apparatus placed
between the backboard and the optical film, wherein the direct
backlight module supporting apparatus comprises: a base; and a main
body which is a pillar formed on the base; wherein the main body
has a top opening stretching down from the top of the main body to
make a backlight projected to the top of the direct backlight
module supporting apparatus through the top opening, the top of the
at least one direct backlight module supporting apparatus further
supports the optical film.
13. The direct backlight module of claim 12, further comprising at
least one light source supporting means fixed on the backboard to
connect and fix the at least one light source, wherein the at least
one light source supporting means and the at least one direct
backlight module supporting apparatus are one-piece formed.
14. The direct backlight module of claim 12, wherein the main body
further comprises a light guiding tunnel having a first opening
connected to the top opening of the main body and a second opening
on a sidewall of the main body, the backlight from the second
opening passes through the light guiding tunnel and is projected to
the top of the direct backlight module supporting apparatus through
the first and the top openings.
15. The direct backlight module of claim 13, wherein a reflecting
means is formed in the light guiding tunnel to reflect the
backlight and concentrate the projection of the backlight to the
top of the direct backlight module supporting apparatus through the
first and the top openings.
16. The direct backlight module of claim 12, the main body further
comprises a chamfer on the sidewall of the main body to reflect the
backlight into the light guiding tunnel, wherein the second opening
substantially connects to the chamfer.
17. The direct backlight module of claim 15, wherein the chamfer
further comprises an inclined surface to make the concentrate the
projection of the backlight into the light guiding tunnel.
18. The direct backlight module of claim 12, wherein the main body
is a cylinder, a cubic pillar, a pyramid, an inverted pyramid or a
pillar with the combination of different shapes.
19 A direct backlight module comprising: a backboard; an optical
film; at least one light source fixed on the backboard; and at
least one direct backlight module supporting apparatus as claim 7
placed between the backboard and the optical film.
20. The direct backlight module of claim 19, further comprising at
least one light source supporting means fixed on the backboard to
connect and fix the at least one light source, wherein the at least
one light source supporting means and the at least one direct
backlight module supporting apparatus are one-piece formed.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to China Application Serial
Number 200810165699.1, filed Sep. 24, 2008, which is herein
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a direct backlight module
supporting apparatus. More particularly, the present invention
relates to a direct backlight module supporting apparatus and a
direct backlight module.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] The backlight module illuminates liquid crystal displays.
Backlight module designs can be generally classified into two
types: direct type and edge type. Large liquid crystal display
(LCD) TVs with direct type backlight modules are currently the main
focus of development. Direct type backlight modules comprise a
plurality of light sources such as light tubes or light emitting
diodes (LEDs) integrated into a module, which is then directly
disposed underneath a LCD related component (e.g. a LCD panel or an
optical film). A plurality of supporting apparatus are formed on
the backboard of the backlight module to support the optical film
such as a diffuser board. Observe a black point on the display
panel is easy if the cross-sectional area of the top of the
supporting apparatus is too large. However, if the cross-sectional
area of the top of the supporting apparatus is too small, the
supporting apparatus may scratch and damage the optical film.
[0006] Accordingly, what is needed is a direct backlight module
supporting apparatus without generating a black point on the
display panel or scratching the optical film to overcome the above
issues. The present invention addresses such a need.
SUMMARY
[0007] A direct backlight module supporting apparatus is provided.
The direct backlight module supporting apparatus comprises a base
and a main body which is a pillar formed on the base, wherein the
main body has a top opening stretching down from the top of the
main body to make a backlight projected to the top of the direct
backlight module supporting apparatus through the top opening.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
direct backlight module supporting apparatus. The direct backlight
module supporting apparatus comprises a base and a main body which
is a pillar formed on the base, wherein the main body comprises a
light guiding tunnel having a first opening on the top of the main
body and a second opening on a sidewall of the main body to make a
backlight from the second opening pass through the light guiding
tunnel and make the backlight project to the top of the direct
backlight module supporting apparatus through the first
opening.
[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
direct backlight module. The direct backlight module comprises a
backboard, an optical film, at least one light source fixed on the
backboard and at least one direct backlight module supporting
apparatus placed between the backboard and the optical film,
wherein the direct backlight module supporting apparatus comprises:
a base; and a main body which is a pillar formed on the base. The
main body has a top opening stretching down from the top of the
main body to make a backlight projected to the top of the direct
backlight module supporting apparatus through the top opening, the
top of the at least one direct backlight module supporting
apparatus further supports the optical film.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
direct backlight module. The direct backlight module comprises a
backboard, an optical film, at least one light source fixed on the
backboard and at least one direct backlight module supporting
apparatus placed between the backboard and the optical film,
wherein the direct backlight module supporting apparatus comprises:
a base; and a main body which is a pillar formed on the base. The
main body comprises a light guiding tunnel having a first opening
on the top of the main body and a second opening on a sidewall of
the main body to make a backlight from the second opening pass
through the light guiding tunnel and make the backlight project to
the top of the direct backlight module supporting apparatus through
the first opening, the top of the at least one direct backlight
module supporting apparatus further supports the optical film.
[0011] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are by examples,
and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The invention can be more fully understood by reading the
following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference
made to the accompanying drawings as follows:
[0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the direct backlight module
according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2G are perspective views and cross-sectional
views of the main body of the direct backlight module supporting
apparatus in different embodiments; and
[0015] FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D are perspective views and cross-sectional
views of the main body of the direct backlight module supporting
apparatus in different embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to
the same or like parts.
[0017] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the direct backlight module 1
according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The
direct backlight module 1 comprises a backboard 10, four light
sources 11, a plurality of direct backlight module supporting
apparatuses 12 and an optical film 14. The direct backlight module
supporting apparatuses 12 comprises a base 121 and a plurality of
main bodies 13 of the supporting apparatuses 12. The base 121
comprises a fastening structure (not shown) to fasten the base 121
to the backboard 10. In the present embodiment, the light sources
11 are light tubes 11. LEDs or other light-emitting device can be
the light sources in other embodiments. The light tube supporting
means 120 are fixed on the backboard 10 to support and fix the
light tube 11. The light tube supporting means 120 is not an
essential element when the light tube is shorter or when the LEDs
are used as light sources. In the present embodiment, the light
tube support means 120 fastens the two ends of the light tube 11.
Each of the supporting apparatuses main bodies 13 is formed on the
base 121. In an embodiment, the main bodies 13, the base 121 and
the light tube supporting means 120 are one-piece formed. The
optical film 14 is on an upper side of the base 121, wherein the
top of the supporting apparatuses main bodies supports the optical
film 14. In the present embodiment, the optical film 14 is a
diffuser board 14. The number of each elements described above is
only the condition of the first embodiment as depicted in FIG. 1.
It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the invention without departing from
the concepts disclosed herein. If the size of the backlight module
is different, people skilled in the art can easily modify the
number of direct backlight module supporting apparatuses, the light
sources and the light tube supporting means.
[0018] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the main body 201 of the
direct backlight module supporting apparatus 20 in one embodiment.
The main body 201 is a pillar on the base (not shown). In the
present embodiment, the pillar 201 is a cone-shaped pillar. In
other embodiments, the pillar 201 can be a cylinder, a cubic
pillar, a pyramid, an inverted pyramid or a pillar with the
combination of different shapes (such as a pillar with a cylinder
as lower part and a cubic pillar as upper part). The main body 201
has a top opening 202 stretching down from the top of the main body
201 to project the a backlight 203 to the top of the direct
backlight module supporting apparatus 20 through the top opening
202. Please refer to FIG. 2B. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the
main body 211 of the direct backlight module supporting apparatus
in another embodiment. The difference between the main body 211 in
FIG. 2B and the main body 210 in FIG. 2A is that, the top opening
202 of the main body 201 is a cutting opening formed by cutting the
top of the main body 201 lengthwise in half, wherein the top
opening 212 of the main body 211 is to form a breach by cutting the
corner of the top of the main body 211. In another embodiment, as
depicted in FIG. 2C, the top opening 222 can be formed by cutting
the top of the main body 201 lengthwise in half in a first
direction and then cutting the top of the main body 201 lengthwise
in half in a second direction to form a cross-shaped top opening
222. The cross-shaped top opening 222 allows more backlight to be
projected to the top of the direct backlight module supporting
apparatus.
[0019] Please refer to FIG. 2D and FIG. 2E at the same time. FIG.
2D is a perspective view of the main body 231 and FIG. 2E is a
cross-sectional view of the main body 231. The main body 231 in the
present embodiment further comprises a light guiding tunnel 236
having a first opening 233 and a second opening 234. The first
opening 233 connects to the top opening 232 and the second opening
234 connects to a sidewall 231 of the main body 231. In the present
embodiment, a reflecting means 235 is formed in the light guiding
tunnel 236 to reflect the backlight 237 and concentrate the
projection of the backlight 237 to the top of the direct backlight
module supporting apparatus through the first and the top openings
233 and 232. Please refer to FIG. 2F and FIG. 2G at the same time.
FIG. 2F is a perspective view of the main body 241 and FIG. 2G is a
cross-sectional view of the main body 241. The main body 241 in the
present embodiment comprises a chamfer 246 on the sidewall of the
main body 241 and a light guiding tunnel 245. The light guiding
tunnel 245 comprises a first opening 243 connected to the top
opening 242 and a second opening 244 connected to the chamfer 246.
The chamfer 246 further comprises an inclined surface 247 to
concentrate the projection of the backlight 248 into the light
guiding tunnel 245. The backlight 248 is further projected to the
top of the direct backlight module supporting apparatus through the
first opening 243 and the top openings 242. It's noticed that, the
chamfer and the light guiding tunnel of the main body of the
embodiments shown in FIG. 2D and FIG. 2F can also be adapted in the
main body shown the FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C.
[0020] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the main body 301 of the
direct backlight module supporting apparatus 30 in one embodiment.
The main body 301 is a cylinder on a base (not shown). In other
embodiments, the pillar 301 can be a cylinder, a cubic pillar, a
pyramid, an inverted pyramid or a pillar with the combination of
different shapes (such as a pillar with a cylinder as lower part
and a cubic pillar as upper part). The main body 301 comprises a
light guiding tunnel 302 having a first opening 303 on the top of
the main body 301 and a second opening 304 on a sidewall of the
main body 301 to make a backlight 305 from the second opening 304
pass through the light guiding tunnel 302 and make the backlight
305 project to the top of the direct backlight module supporting
apparatus through the first opening 303. FIG. 3B is a perspective
view of the main body 311 of the direct backlight module supporting
apparatus in one embodiment. The main body 311 in the present
embodiment is an inverted cone comprising a light guiding tunnel
312, wherein the light guiding tunnel 312 has a first opening 313
on the top of the main body 311 and a second opening 314 on a
sidewall of the main body 311. A reflecting means 315 is formed in
the light guiding tunnel 312 to reflect the backlight 316 and
concentrate the projection of the backlight 316 to the top of the
direct backlight module supporting apparatus through the first
openings 313. Please refer to FIG. 3C and FIG. 3D at the same time.
FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the main body 321 and FIG. 3D is a
cross-sectional view of the main body 321. The main body 321 in the
present embodiment is a square pyramid comprising a light guiding
tunnel 322 and a chamfer 326 formed on a sidewall of the main body
321. The light guiding tunnel has a first opening 323 connected to
the top of the main body 321 and a second opening 324 connected to
the chamfer 326. The chamfer 326 further comprises an inclined
surface 327 to concentrate the projection of the backlight 328 into
the light guiding tunnel 322. The backlight 328 is further
projected to the top of the direct backlight module supporting
apparatus through the first opening 323.
[0021] The direct backlight module supporting apparatus of the
present invention provides a supporting mechanism. The design of
the top of the main body not only keeps the direct backlight module
supporting apparatus from scratching and damaging the optical film
it supports because of the larger cross-sectional area, but also
makes the backlight projected to the top of the direct backlight
module supporting apparatus due to the top opening.
[0022] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the
present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the
present invention cover modifications and variations of this
invention provided they fall within the scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *